The hits, the dancing, the outfits, there was so much to look forward to at Rauw Alejandro’s Cosa Nuestra tour stop in Chicago on Friday (May 9). Safe to say, there was all of that and more.
Rauw’s first night (out of three) at the United Center was the hottest ticket in town with fans flocking to the West Side of Chicago in full Cosa Nuestra dress code: evening gowns, elegance, flow and style. While I struggled to come up with an outfit that would be on theme, it seemed like no one else had that same issue.
“This dress is from my junior prom,” Jasmin Martínez, who wore a shimmery ball gown adorned with feathers, told Billboard. She traveled to Chicago from Wisconsin with her sister Janet, who exuded elegance in a sheer, rhinestone-studded gown.
Once inside, the sisters snapped photos and selfies, just like everyone else did to show off their fits of the night. Around 8 p.m. fans began making their way to their seats, making sure they wouldn’t miss the man of the hour take the stage. And once he did, the crowd roared giving Rauw a warm Chicago welcome.
“I see all the ladies with the dress code,” Rauw said at the top of the show, acknowledging his zealous fans who followed closely his instructions. “We have three sold-out [shows] here in Chicago. I just want to say thank you, gracias de todo corazón.”
Alejandro sang well over two hours, which were divided into four acts. See, at a Cosa Nuestra tour stop, you don’t get your traditional show, this is almost like a play on Broadway, there’s even a Playbill-like program that fans can scan to follow along. (More details on the acts below). There’s acting, singing, interludes, a master of ceremony — the whole deal. I can confidently say, I’ve never seen anything quite like this. Actually, think West Side Story, as Rauw’s concert centers around María and Raúl’s (played by Rauw) twisted love story.
“Today I bring you not only music,” a description of the musical reads in the program. “I bring you a piece of my history, of our culture and of the dreams that walk between the streets of Puerto Rico and New York. This journey is for those who love without fear, dream without permission and fight without rest. Welcome to my world.”
Rauw’s Cosa Nuestra Tour is in support of his latest album under the same name, which he released late last year. The 18-track set — sonically varied from salsa to R&B to reggaetón to electro-funk to kizomba — gave the Puerto Rican star his first top 10-charting effort on the Billboard 200 debuting at No. 6. The set also sits atop both the Top Latin Albums chart and Latin Rhythm Albums charts.
The Live Nation-produced trek continues in Chicago on May 10-11 and will then make stops in New York, Atlanta and Miami. See the dates here.
Here are some best moments from Rauw’s first show at United Center.
